PM’s China tour report must be tempered with caution

While Anthony Albanese and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, have been enjoying their time in China, it has aspects of a whirlwind honeymoon. All accounts and reports indicate the visit has been a huge success, with the fun side of it involving walking along the Great Wall of China and visiting the panda previously housed at Adelaide Zoo. It was seemingly smooth sailing on calm waters.

Then why is it I am waiting for the honeymoon to be over when China’s President Xi Jinping will impress his nation’s needs in relation to the Port of Darwin if Albanese moves to cancel the lease?

It would be naive of Albanese to take things at face value as the Chinese hold the secret to the face-changing mask act. Caution is recommended as things are not as they may seem.

Susan McLochlan, Caboolture South, Qld

Anthony Albanese must stop kowtowing to the Chinese dictatorship. History has long shown that dictators respect only those who stand up to them and their aggressive behaviour.

Tugging one’s forelock to the Chinese President serves only to diminish our nation’s status geopolitically.

Michael J. Gamble, Belmont, Vic

Apart from traversing part of the Great Wall and watching pandas, did Anthony Albanese achieve anything during his fourth visit to China? He doesn’t look like a “handsome boy” any more, if he ever did, and Xi Jinping didn’t flinch when asked about the live-firing exercises that upset so many of Albanese’s constituents.

If the Prime Minister could successfully wrest control of the Port of Darwin from the Chinese (rather than it being seen as yet another example of propaganda talk), that would really prove a feather in his cap.

Claire Jolliffe, Buderim, Qld

The spectacle of our Prime Minister promoting our economic subservience to China and excusing China’s naval exercises around our country’s coastline, which put our pilots in danger, is unpardonable. Now we read that companies controlled by a Chinese businessman with Communist Party links have bought properties within precincts earmarked for AUKUS submarine bases at two of our major ports and that Treasury is refusing to answer questions (“Alarm at port purchases”, 18/7).

On the one hand, we are preparing for a possible conflict with communist China, as shown by Talisman Sabre, but on the other we are selling important properties linked to our defences with what is a shocking lack of due diligence or a craven desire for economic gain at our country’s expense.

Lisa Sanderson, Auchenflower, Qld

The relationship with China’s President Xi Jinping is “warm and engaging”, according to our Prime Minister. Is Anthony Albanese totally ignorant of the fact that while he is kowtowing to China’s dictator, Taiwan is preparing its 23 million citizens to rush into bomb shelters in case the “warm” President carries out his overt threat to forcibly take over that tiny country in the near future? Is he also totally unaware of what such a move would mean to the security of our own country and the entire Asia-Pacific area?

Susan Hofbauer, Randwick, NSW

If our Prime Minister is modelling himself on Gough Whitlam, then we are doomed. Perhaps he should study the Whitlam government’s success stories, a read that won’t take too much sightseeing time from Albanese as he happily cavorts around the sights of Beijing.

The nation would be better served if he studied the performances of former prime ministers Bob Hawke and John Howard. Perhaps then we could all heave a huge sigh of relief and not look at this government’s remaining tenure with dread.

Tom Moylan, Dudley Park, WA

When you see the Prime Minister mending relationships, keep in mind what will be in the front of his mind: the Morrison example. He cannot afford to upset China on any key issue or punishment may follow.

Imagine if China stops students coming to our universities. It wouldn’t hurt them but would be a massive political blow to the PM. As much as he is currently lauded, he would be lambasted if this came to pass.

In this regard, it will be fascinating to see how the Port of Darwin affair plays out.

Chris J. Lloyd, Melbourne